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(Secondary) English PGCE

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Intro

Our (Secondary) English PGCE leads to the award of Qualified Teacher Status with enrichment opportunities to teach age 16–18.

We will equip you with the skills and knowledge to become a confident and competent English teacher.

Our teaching graduates' benefit from excellent employment rates that are consistently above the sector average. Plus, we’ll continue to support you through your first few years as an early career teacher.

At Brighton you’ll train to teach with an Ofsted ‘outstanding’ provider and be educated by an expert team.

You’ll gain practical experiences in two carefully selected schools – we have over 600 placement partners offering a variety of opportunities in large, small, urban and rural settings.

At university you’ll learn in our specialist facilities and use our curriculum centre which has over 30,000 resources.

You may be asked at interview to complete a Subject Knowledge Enhancement  course if your degree isn’t in this subject area, or you have relevant professional experience but need to learn how to apply that to teaching.

You could be eligible for a £15,000 bursary if starting this course in 2023.

Brighton is one of the UK's largest teacher training universities and has been educating teachers and leaders for over 100 years.

Find out about postgraduate events

Key facts

Location Brighton: Falmer

Course code Q3X1

Full-time 1 year

Qualified Teacher Status is awarded by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA)

interview advice sessions

Get top tips for your interview at one of our online teaching interview advice sessions.

Apply for 2023 from 11 October with DfE Apply

  • We're 8th in the UK for education courses – Guardian University Guide 2023

  • We're in the top 20 in the UK for education courses – The Times League Tables 2023

  • We're in the top 20 in England for education courses – Complete University Guide 2023

Course content

Course structure

Two-thirds of your year will be spent teaching, under supervision, in schools. Our tutors and mentors will advise and support you throughout each placement. You will receive comprehensive feedback during this time, enabling you to see what you are doing well and where you might need to improve.

The university works in partnership with schools and colleges to provide a high quality programme of support, ensuring a sound relationship between theory and practice. You will benefit from undertaking two placements in two schools or colleges, with the opportunity to visit additional schools or colleges as part of the 'Peer Observation' programme.

The School of Education is excellently equipped with multimedia training materials, giving you the opportunity to develop your confidence and competence in the use of ICT. Our multimedia suites are regularly updated to keep up with technological advancements in classroom teaching provision. 

Please enable targeting cookies in order to view this video content on our website, or you can watch the video on YouTube.

Areas of study

A detailed exploration of literacy as a social practice ensures that graduates move beyond the minimum requirements of the Initial Teacher Training National Curriculum. The course, in content and methodology, highlights the importance of literature and drama in language, literacy and learning. Graduates are able, as they enter the profession, to contribute to innovative approaches in teaching English.

There are four strands to this course: subject study/subject education, education and professional studies, school placements and professional practice.

Course content is kept up to date with changes in local and national initiatives and legislation, so you will be confident that your working knowledge is based on current theory and practice.

The subject study/subject education strand builds upon your existing expertise in English and provides you with the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and understanding of English in the secondary school context. You will consider the learning and teaching strategies that are relevant to the specialist subject. 

The subject education module is specifically related to teaching the specialist subject in school while the subject study module enables you to take your subject specialist studies to an increased depth. You can earn 20 masters-level credits through the assessment for the subject study module.

The education and professional studies strand will give you a thorough understanding of the learning process itself, including an appreciation of individual differences. The study of the principles and practices of learning and teaching is through both school and university settings, allowing you to develop practical competencies, supported by analytical skills. By the end of the course you will:

  • refine your understanding of pedagogy, including an appreciation of current and emerging educational theories and debate
  • understand how to use and adapt a range of teaching, learning, management and assessment strategies in order to meet the varying needs of learners
  • understand how the progress and wellbeing of learners is affected by a range of influences and know how to take account of the principles of equality, inclusion and diversity.

The school placements/professional practice strand is intrinsically linked to all key strands of the course and is designed to enable you to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive as creative, informed and critical professionals.

You will engage in target setting and action planning, and reflect upon your learning in order to make improvements as you progress through the emerging, embedding and enhancing phases of trainee teacher development towards meeting the Teachers’ Standards and the award of Qualified Teacher Status at the end of the course.

Secondary education students chatting at a desk

Woman walking through a library

Placements

Ofsted identify our approach to training in schools as a key strength of this course, with an excellent balance between university tuition and school-based training.

You will spend a minimum of 120 days on school-based activities, with your training shared between the university and the partner school. 

Your school-based training will include observing teachers, working with individual pupils and groups of pupils, team teaching and independent teaching. Your training will also entail completing specific subject tasks and developing your knowledge of school policy and effective practices.

You will maintain a professional training portfolio and be supported to review your work critically and analytically as well as to set appropriately challenging targets. We will also develop an action plan with you to identify strengths, development needs and actions, so that your practice is continually developing.

Key aims of the school-based training:

  • advance the development of your professional attributes, skills, knowledge and understanding
  • provide a variety of practical and specific experiences that enable you to critically analyse your professional practice and take responsibility for your own professional development
  • enable you to work collaboratively with colleagues in order to develop an understanding of the ways in which the attainment, development and well-being of all learners can be achieved with a unified support and teaching system
  • provide opportunities that enable you to adopt a creative and constructively critical approach towards your practice, supported by appropriate reading and research.

During your school-based training, university tutors, school mentors and teachers will support you and take shared responsibility for your professional development.

Your progress will be observed and assessed throughout your placement by university and school staff, followed by feedback sessions to discuss your development. Your e-portfolio will also be evaluated as part of the overall assessment.

Organising your school-based training

Our Partnership Office will organise the school-based training for you. Each year we organise over 2,500 placements for our students. We work hard to ensure that you have placement opportunities that will give you valuable and varied experiences in the area of education in which you are interested.

How it works

We will ask you to complete a placement information form when you start your course, and will use this information to match you to a suitable placement. We will consider your previous experience, travelling distance, the age ranges you wish to teach, and your current needs.

Once we have matched you with a placement, the team in the Partnership Office will confirm the placement as quickly as possible with the school or organisation. They will then contact you with the placement details. Almost all of our placements will be with partner schools or organisations in south-east England, most of them in East and West Sussex.

Meet the course leader

Dr Anne Denmead, Senior Lecturer and Route Leader for English

Dr Anne Denmead is the Route Leader for English (Secondary) PGCE and School Direct Training. Since joining the University of Brighton in January 2015, she has taught predominantly at postgraduate level across ITE courses and provision for in-service educators. 

A qualified English teacher, Anne worked for over twenty years in secondary schools and sixth form colleges across Sussex, occupying a range of different posts of responsibility including mentor to trainees and new teachers as well as head of department.

Anne completed an MA in Education in 2013 with her thesis exploring the transition between GCSE and A-level English literature. In other small scale qualitative projects, she has examined issues arising from the practice and theory of teaching English at secondary level: classroom: talk as a teaching tool; the effectiveness of formative assessment; and changing reader identity.

Her doctoral thesis, titled 'Enablers and barriers to reading in Key Stage 3 English', was completed November 2021.

If you would like to contact Anne, please email: a.denmead@brighton.ac.uk.

Anne Denmead

Ofsted

In our most recent Initial Teacher Education inspection report, the University of Brighton's School of Education was graded 'outstanding'. You can view the report here.

Ofsted identified some of our key strengths as:

  • the very high attainment of the majority of trainees
  • the expertly designed and diverse range of programmes that respond to trainees' backgrounds, needs and interests as well as to national priorities
  • the outstanding progress made by trainees as a result of training which enables them to fulfil their potential
  • inspirational teaching, tutoring and mentoring that model the best teaching and give trainees the ambition to reach the highest standards
  • highly reflective trainees who demonstrate good subject knowledge and a breadth of understanding of how to teach
  • an excellent range of training experiences which effectively prepare trainees to teach in a diverse society
  • the excellent resources available to trainees
  • leadership that is dynamic in its approach to anticipating change and solving problems
  • a visionary approach to innovation and change.
Secondary school pupils walking down a sunlit corridor

School Direct

School Direct is an alternative route to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and the University of Brighton is working with a number of schools to deliver this programme across a range of secondary subjects as well as in the primary phase. 

To train as a teacher through the School Direct programme you need to apply directly to a school for a School Direct training place, with schools advertising their vacancies on the UCAS Teacher Training website. The University of Brighton supports School Direct through providing training and assessment opportunities at the request of participating schools.

Find out more about School Direct and view vacancies.

Student teacher reading from a book to pupils

 Study here 

Why choose teaching at the University of Brighton?

  • We were rated Outstanding by Ofsted in our 2018 inspection
  • Our graduates benefit from excellent employment rates that are consistently above the sector average
  • We have 600 partner schools and colleges, offering varied placement opportunities to our students
  • We work closely with local authorities, schools, colleges and educational organisations ensuring that our students are kept up to date with the changing world of education
  • Our tutors are experts in their area of research and have published numerous academic publications
  • We offer several routes into teaching with the opportunity to engage in professional development after graduating
  • We have a dedicated team to help you after you qualify, through our Early Teacher Career support programme
  • We’re one of the UKs largest teacher training universities, educating teachers and leaders for over 100 years
Students relaxing outside on some benches

Rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted for primary, secondary and early years initial teacher education in our most recent inspection.

Careers

Preparing for your teaching career 

You will graduate from this course equipped with the skills and knowledge to become a confident and competent secondary school teacher.

As well as gaining a PGCE, you will be assessed against the national Teachers’ Standards in order to be recommended for the award of Qualified Teacher Status.

You’ll benefit from our partnership with over 600 schools, where you’ll gain practical school-based experience in a wide range of settings – large, small, rural and urban.

You will gain a knowledge and understanding of your specialist subject in the secondary school context. You will consider the learning and teaching strategies that are relevant to this subject and develop leadership and management skills.

If you are considering whether a career in teaching is for you, and you are a UK resident, the Department for Education’s School Experience Programme offers between one and 10 days’ classroom experience in a secondary school.

trainnee teacher smiling with pupil in school setting

School-based training 

Each phase of your school-based training will give you supported experience and help you gain confidence in your teaching ability.

Our staff will ensure that you are well prepared before your school-based training, and that you have all the support and guidance needed to make the most of these opportunities.

We have partnerships with over 600 schools and settings which offer you opportunities in large, small, urban and rural settings ensuring you will have a well-rounded experience. You will experience time in two carefully selected schools during your course.

Your school-based training experiences will include:

  • writing lesson plans and evaluations for the classes you teach
  • engaging in both formative and summative assessment of pupils learning and performance
  • completing your e-portfolio as supporting evidence of meeting the Teachers’ Standards.

Each year we organise over 2,500 placements for our students with partner schools and colleges, offering varied placement opportunities. We work hard to ensure that your school-based training will provide you with learning opportunities and valuable experience with the age group you are qualifying to teach.

School-based experience will enable you to demonstrate and grow your knowledge. You'll also make valuable contacts in schools which will help when you are looking for your first teaching role.

trainee teacher teaching in classroom setting

Facilities for learning 

Our facilities include a curriculum centre which contains more than 30,000 specialist resources for trainee teachers including books, DVDs, games and an online catalogue.

Our Falmer campus also houses specialist classrooms that replicate those used in schools so you’ll feel at home when you go on your school-based training and start your career.

Teaching facilities include:

  • science labs
  • art classrooms
  • kiln room
  • dark room
  • design and technology workshop
  • performance studio.
Teaching students in library

Click the image to view a virtual tour of our facilities for trainee teachers.

Graduate destinations

Our teaching graduates benefit from excellent employment rates that are consistently above the sector average.

Career prospects are good; most graduates gain their first teaching posts in school settings as soon as they qualify.

University of Brighton trained teachers are highly sought after by our partnership schools. They are known for their creative and innovative approaches to teaching.

Many of our graduates take on mentoring and leadership roles, or opt for specialist roles such as special education needs.

Our careers service holds an annual teaching recruitment fair on campus which our partner schools attend as they are looking to recruit newly qualified teachers for the next school year.

trainee teacher with group of pupils in a classroom

Further study

After completing your NQT year we offer opportunities for you to continue your studies. 

Successful completion of this course means you'll be awarded 60 masters-level credits which can be used towards our Education MA which further integrates academic study with work-based learning and research.

group of students walking through Falmer campus

Supporting your employability

Outside of your course, our Careers Service is here to support you as you discover (and re-discover) your strengths and what matters to you. We are here for you throughout your university journey as you work towards a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Connect with our careers team

  • Find part-time work that you can combine with your studies.
  • Find, or be, a mentor or get involved with our peer-to-peer support scheme.
  • Develop your business ideas through our entrepreneurial support network.
  • Get professional advice and support with career planning, CV writing and interview top tips.
  • Meet potential employers at our careers fairs.
  • Find rewarding volunteering opportunities to help you discover more about what makes you tick, and build your CV.

Whatever your career needs, we are here to help. And that's not just while you are a student, our support carries on after you've graduated.

Find out more...

Coloured background with the words Be More, Connected, Skilled, Emlployable

Early career support

We will continue to support you after you qualify through our early career support programme.

We’ll offer resources, advice, events and drop-in sessions to help you overcome the challenges that many new teachers face in their first few years of working as a qualified teacher. We’ll help you with the next stage of your journey and offer support that will enable you to develop and thrive in your early career.

Our website provides guidance and support for after you graduate, including the latest teaching job vacancies, personal statement feedback, short mock interviews, useful contacts for advice and a variety of helpful resources including videos.

The university tutors supported me long after finishing the course. During my NQT year at a community college they continued to provide me with advice and check on my professional progress and my wellbeing.

Brenda, graduate and teacher

In education, 100% of our research impact is assessed as outstanding or very considerable in terms of its reach and significance in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

Degree and experience
Normally an honours degree, or equivalent qualification, in the subject specialism or a subject that is directly relevant. 

If your degree relates to English but is not directly matched, or you have relevant professional experience but need to learn how to apply that to teaching, you may be asked to complete a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) before starting this course. This will be discussed with you during your interview if relevant.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
At least English language and mathematics. Equivalence tests are available for suitable candidates.

English language requirements
IELTS 7.0 in all elements.

Training to teach in England as an international student
If you're not a UK citizen, with the exception of those training to teach physics or modern languages, you are unlikely to get help funding your training unless you have permission to live permanently in the UK. You can find information about your options on the UK government's Get into Teaching website.

Interviews

Interviews for this course can be in-person at the university or online. Applicants invited to interview will be able to choose a date and which option suits them best.

Get top tips for your interview at one of our online teaching interview advice sessions.

Experience

While experience in a school is not a condition of entry for initial teacher education courses we recommend that you take up opportunities to gain a realistic understanding of whether teaching is right for you. The Get Into Teaching School Experience Programme offers opportunities across the country to book a day’s worth of experience.

Read the tips on applying for teacher training.

Other

  • Applicants from minority ethnic and other groups under-represented in the profession are particularly welcome.
  • All offers of places are subject to a satisfactory health check and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) enhanced check.
  • We are committed to safeguarding and child protection. As part of our selection and interview process, we will undertake additional checks to confirm the suitability of candidates.

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 15,300 GBP

As a postgraduate trainee teacher there is a range of funding available which you could be eligible to receive whilst you are studying:

  • Tax-free bursaries and scholarships – these depend on the subject you are training to teach and your highest relevant academic award. 

On our website you will find information about other funding including:

  • the student finance package from Student Finance England – tuition fee loans and maintenance loans
  • Parents’ Learning Allowance
  • Childcare Grant
  • Care leaver’s bursary
  • Disabled Students’ Allowance.

If you're not a UK citizen, you are unlikely to get help funding your training unless you have permission to live permanently in the UK.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Education are listed here.

  • You will have access to computers and necessary software, however many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses.
  • In most cases coursework submissions are electronic but you may wish to print notes and should budget approximately £30 for printing.
  • For courses which require a placement, you’ll be expected to pay for your travel expenses but you may be able to claim some travel costs back from the university, depending on where your placement is in relation to where you live.
  • Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget up to £150 to buy your own copies
  • You may wish to consider budgeting up to £25 for stationery/teaching materials.

You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page if you require further information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2023–24.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Falmer campus

Set in the South Downs, our Falmer campus is around four miles from Brighton city centre. Students based here study a range of subjects – from 2024 these will include education studies, teaching, sport and exercise, nursing and midwifery, allied health professions and medicine. Brighton and Hove Albion's Amex stadium and beautiful Stanmer Park are right next door.

Falmer campus has two halls of residence on site, as well as a library, restaurant, cafes and the students' union shop and bar.

The campus sports centre has a fitness suite, activity studios and a sports hall. There is also a floodlit astroturf football pitch, netball and tennis courts.

Specialist learning facilities at Falmer include the curriculum centre used by teaching and education students, which houses over 30,000 teaching resources, and clinical skills and simulation suites used by health students. New facilities are being developed ready for September 2024 when all of our sport and health students will be based here. Learn more about the changes at Falmer.

Cycle lanes link Falmer with our other campuses and the city centre. There are regular bus services to the city centre and other campuses. Falmer train station is right next to campus and a nine minute journey to central Brighton.

Newly refurbished atrium in the Checkland Building

Accommodation

Brighton: Falmer

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

  • You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:
  • Falmer campus is linked to the halls on Falmer campus and at Varley Park. All halls are self-catered.
    • Paddock Field and Great Wilkins halls offer a range of rooms on our Falmer campus, minutes from your classes, and on the edge of the South Downs.
    • Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices. It is around two miles from Falmer campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there’s a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Students dining at Westlain

Students dining at Westlain

Local area

About Brighton

The University of Brighton is at the heart of our city's reputation as a welcoming, forward-thinking place which leads the way when it comes to the arts, music, sustainability and creative technology. Brighton is home to a thriving creative community and a digital sector worth £1bn a year to the local economy, as much as tourism.

Many of the work-based learning opportunities offered on our courses such as placements and guest lectures are provided by businesses and organisations based in the city.

You can also get involved with city festivals and events such as the Brighton Festival, the Fringe, Brighton Digital Festival, Brighton Science Festival, the London to Brighton bike ride, and the Great Escape festival of new music to name but a few. Other annual highlights include Pride, the Brighton Marathon, and Burning the Clocks which marks the winter solstice.

You'll find living in Brighton enriches your learning experience and by the end of your course you will still be finding new things to explore and inspire you.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Maps

Falmer campus

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more.

Students talking in a social area

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Students playing frisbee

Student views  

Patrick Hanlon

Since I was young, English has always been my favourite subject, my fondest memories from school all involved English teachers.

When I was researching universities, Brighton was highly regarded and has an outstanding reputation for being a supportive and inclusive space. I was delighted to be accepted onto the course and start a new chapter in my life.

The team here cannot be faulted. They are hugely supportive, listen to feedback and act upon it to resolve any issues. The standard of subject knowledge is excellent and each member has mastery over their chosen subject area.

I have gained countless skills that will be invaluable in my ECT years. Skills such as lesson planning, behaviour management, classroom practice, curriculum design, subject knowledge, pedagogical theory and, diversifying the curriculum to name some. The year has given me everything I need to be a well-rounded practitioner.

As part of my training, I have attended two placement schools in semi-rural locations within Sussex. Both of these have given me an excellent insight into the reality of being a classroom teacher. At both placements I was working within a robust department with very experienced and helpful mentors.

The practical knowledge gained during both placements will be a huge help when I start my first post in September, in an urban school setting here in Brighton. The skills and expertise I have gained will mean that I know what to expect in the role and can hit the ground running in my new school.

Patrick Hanlon

Harriett Gibbs

I have enjoyed English since primary school, and found I had a real affinity for it at secondary school. I was lucky enough to have some wonderful teachers who encouraged me to pursue English at university and who inspired me to go into teaching.

Having completed an English Language and Linguistics degree at the University of Brighton, I looked elsewhere for a change of scenery. However, nothing came close. The atmosphere from both staff and students is entirely unmatched and there was nowhere that offered such a good level of teaching alongside a truly fantastic support team.

The experience of the PGCE provided me with countless new skills and endless opportunity for personal and professional development. The PGCE taught me to be patient, organised, kind, professional and balanced. The chance to get to know my fellow students was also invaluable. The support and friendship I gained from meeting fellow trainees is what got me through the hard days.

The chance to experience teaching firsthand on placement is what really makes you into a teacher. Working alongside teachers with years of experience gave me endless amounts of knowledge and insight that I was able to learn from. The mentors and teachers I worked closely with were unbelievably kind and generous with their knowledge and their time.

The facilities on campus are great, the buildings are modern and the library resources are fantastic. The teaching and learning centre is also brilliant and has lots of teaching specific resources to utilise.

Harriett_Gibbs_English_PGCE_2022

Stay in touch

Find out about postgraduate events

Ask a question about this course

Read our application advice for postgraduate teacher training. The DfE has also produced a helpful short film: what to know when applying for teacher training.

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644
Message the team.

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